ANCOR is thrilled to announce that on Monday, U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) and Tom Emmer (R-MN) introduced the Isaiah Baker and Margie Harris-Austin Act. The bill would authorize states to reimburse, if they so choose, Direct Support Professionals’ (DSP) time supporting individuals during short-term hospital stays. Currently, home and community-based services (HCBS), specifically those under 1915 (c) waivers, have not had this option available to them. This has been a priority issue for ANCOR, which led advocacy on this bill throughout 2019, because of its potential to improve health outcomes for people with disabilities and because supports during hospital stays have been an unfunded cost for providers. While the House bill does not yet have a number and its text has not yet been loaded to Congress.gov, we are excited and grateful for the bill’s introduction. We expect a Senate companion bill in the very near future.
Additionally, we are grateful that last week, U.S. Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced the SENIOR CARE Act (H.R. 5429), which would allow people with disabilities over the age of 64 to buy into Medicaid. Currently, buy-ins are only available for people with disabilities under age 64. ANCOR has worked on this legislation in conjunction with Ohio advocates since 2018.
If you live in Pennsylvania, Minnesota or Ohio, we encourage you to thank these offices for championing these issues. Please email Doris Parfaite-Claude at [email protected] if you need assistance.
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